Terrorist infiltration propaganda creates new blame game

Latest developments on Pakistan-India diplomatic front suggest the bilateral relations between the two neighbors are on a hurtling downward spiral.

On Thursday, Indian authorities said they have information that Pakistan was trying to infiltrate terrorists into India to carry out terrorist activities. Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Pakistan was trying to infiltrate terrorists to create ‘an alarmist situation’ in India.

The minister was talking to reporters after Indian media ran news reports that cited unidentified Indian intelligence sources as saying Pakistan-trained commandos have allegedly entered Indian waters to attack port facilities in western Gujarat state.

Indian media gave extensive coverage to the minister’s statement.

Director General Inter Services Public Relations, Major General Asif Ghafoor rejected the accusations and said it would be insane to allow infiltration across the Line of Control.

The other day, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider, while speaking at an event in Washington DC also expressed resolve not to allow terrorists highjack the peaceful struggle for Kashmir. There is no room for terrorism in Kashmir struggle, he said.

Not everyone endorsed his stance.

Pakistan’s top English daily, The Nation criticized him for ‘speaking the same language that the Americans have been speaking whenever they talk about Kashmir’. The newspaper stressed on the need of understanding the difference between terrorism and ‘justified armed struggle’ for the right to self-determination.

The Nation said armed struggle against occupied force is even considered justified by the United Nations.

The Pakistan – India conflict has worsened ever since the latter abrogated the special status of Jammu & Kashmir by revoking Article 370 of the Indian constitution.

This has led to a surge in hostilities between the two neighboring countries to the extent that the world fears it may escalate to a nuclear conflict.